Only one man was willing to put his hand up — Duncan Dean, the candidate for the Melbourne seat of La Trobe.

I asked him for one costed policy his party backed, but he wanted to speak about how many people Clive Palmer had employed. He did not want to answer why Clive Palmer did not pay some of the workers in his Townsville nickel refinery.

After much difficulty naming a detailed policy, he was able to say the party would provide a 20 per cent income tax cut for people and businesses located more than 200 kilometres from any capital city.

"That's what we will bring to the table," Mr Dean said. He could not say how that cut would be paid for.

Pressed for another policy he said politicians were wasting money on the National Broadband Network. But he had no alternative plan for the massive infrastructure investment.

"It's too late to do anything," he said.

He also could not name any academic institution or think tank that backs the party's vague proposals on company tax.

Candidates in fear of being dumped

When I asked again when Clive Palmer's workers would be paid, he dodged, with this answer: "The real issue is supporting my electorate and I have been doorknocking and circulating around this electorate, hearing what people have got to say and what they want."

My final question was whether the candidate Duncan Dean approved of the preference deal with the Liberals. He declined to offer an opinion.

A few Palmer candidates have told me they are afraid to say anything publicly about their party leader, for fear they would be disendorsed.

It is an odd party that so loudly proclaims it will form government, yet has fewer detail in its policies than many other independent candidates.

Strange too, that Palmer's candidates reportedly have to pay back their high advertising costs should they win a seat, but desert the party.

Rafael Epstein has hosted ABC Radio Melbourne's Drive program since 2012. He is a Walkley Award-winner and former current affairs journalist.